Fourteen years is a long time to wait for a sequel. Not that I was actually waiting for another entry in the Incredibles franchise. Like many of the early Pixar films I saw it as a one off and was happy to let go as the studio moved onto other projects. But as history has shown us, the Mouse just can’t let potential profit lie, so after Disney officially acquired Pixar, an Incredibles sequel was all but inevitable. The results of this business model have been a mixed bag, to put it nicely. While Toy Story has done well with sequels, properties like Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo have not been so fortunate. Picking up exactly where the last entry left off all those years ago, The Incredible 2 is much more Toy Story 2 than Monsters University, though it may fall ever so slightly short of the original.

After stopping the Under Miner, but not actually capturing him (and causing massive property damage in the process), “Supers” are in need of some good PR. Enter Winston and Evelyn Deavor, siblings and heads of the company DevTech, who have an idea how to get heroes back into a positive light. Supers need a new face for public consumption, one that shows all the good they do, not just the destructive aftermath that is shown on the news. And that hero would be Elastigirl. After a little struggle with what it would mean for her family, she jumps at the opportunity, hoping to turn public opinion back to her side.

With Elastigirl out saving the world, that means the duties of taking care of the family fall on the broad shoulders of Mr. Incredible. So is The Incredibles 2 Mr. Mom in tights? Kind of, but it’s much more than that. The old mantra of being parent equating to being a superhero playing out in a literal sense is more enjoyable than one would initially think. The foibles of raising children are much more exciting to watch when those kids have special powers, and in the case of baby Jack Jack, more powers than anyone knows how to handle. Jack Jack is the star of the show here, and while his vast array of powers may end up being a bit too convenient at times, he steals every scene he is in and it is a joy watching everyone try to get a handle on him.

While the family centric core of the story works very well, the plot here unfortunately isn’t as creative as its predecessor. The big twist can be seen coming from miles away and the main villain just isn’t as interesting as super fan turned super villain Syndrome. Not that these faults make for a bad film, it is still a very enjoyable ride. The heart and relationships all remain intact, and that’s really what we’re here for. Living in a world where cinematic superhero fatigue is a very real thing, I would happily go on another adventure with Jack Jack and company. I’d just prefer not to wait another fourteen years.

8.5/10